We all laugh, cry, love, and play.

This past April I was in Puerto Rico on assignment for @americares documenting their ongoing projects helping Puerto Rico recover from the devastating hurricanes that passed over the island in 2017. I have visited the island a few times after the hurricane. Things are betterl, but there is still so much to do. In many areas there still is no electricity, debris still hasn't been cleared away, many essential services still don't exist, and jobs non existent. No wonder so many Puerto Ricos are leaving their beloved island to the mainland US to find better opportunities.

Lucinda and Juan live in the mountains of Utuado in the center of the island. This area was particularly hard hit. They live near a beautiful water fall which during the hurricane turned into a raging mudslide that swept away most of their home, their belongings, and electrical lines. Fortunately, they were able to escape with their family before anyone was hurt. Although their future is uncertain, get their water from the river, they still don't have electricity, and have no idea when it will arrive. Working together with their neighbors they make the best of their situation, but many neighbors have left to the mainland. They refuse to leave..."this is our home and we are not leaving." Such beautiful people.

Me at Everest Base Camp, Nepal. Dedicating my trek to Puerto Rico

When I was visiting I saw a Puerto Rican flag on the wall and I asked where I could buy one. Lucinda, took it off the wall and handed it to me. I did not want to take their flag, but Lucinda insisted. She said "This is remember us and where you come from." An emotional moment for sure. So this is for Lucinda, Juan. I haven't forgotten!

Always be motivated to do good work, help people, and in the end stay inspired.

In 2013 I was in the Philippines just after Typhoon Haiyan. I was there documenting the herculean emergency relief efforts by Direct Relief, and their partner organizations in the areas devastated by the typhoon. On this trip I met with some inspiring people. People that I knew were going to do even more amazing things in the future. They motivated me to stay in touch with them, and follow their work over the years. I knew that one day we will be able work together, and collaborate on something great. The stars came into alignment in 2017 where I was able to coordinate a commercial project that got me to Kenya, and also get to work with this small hard working organization Mission Restore. I had been following it's director's projects since we met in the Philippines in 2013.

Mission Restore is a worthy organization that helps spread knowledge, and surgical skills to doctors in communities in need of those skills. It was a beautiful thing to meet so many dedicated doctors, and how they truly change peoples lives for the better. I was glad to be a part of it.

This is a result of the project. I photographed their doctor trainings in and out of the operating theater as well as patient stories.

2017 was a great and a tough year photographing. I photographed amazing places, beautiful people, people powering through hard times, and natural disasters. I got to work with great clients, travel with some inspiring people, and be in some difficult places with people who are truly dedicated to helping others.

Here are a few highlights of some projects I did this year. I am truly blessed.

Did a photo workshop to Havana and Trinidad Cuba with my workshop company Camera Voyages. An amazing trip it was!

On the runway with Americares as a plane full of emergency supplies starts it's engines destined for the Virgin Islands destroyed by hurricane Irma.

At an indigenous settlement In the Chaco region of Paraguay. An area struggling with poverty, scarce water, lack of opportunity. These kids have no toys but they make rifles with a few legos.

Puerto Rico se Levanta" Photographed in my motherland after the devastating hurricane Maria. I was both sad and proud to see my people helping each other and powering through the lack of everything.

"Happy boys" No matter what peoples circumstances are, they can be happy. India, one of my favorite places.

My most awesome group of travelers I took on a "Road Trip Through Rajasthan" for a photo workshop.

Traveled to Kenya to document stories on micro loans for women. This woman was able to start her farm and small business with a micro loan.

A temporary health clinic set up in a closed gas station damaged by hurricane Maria

The beauty of the people of Rajasthan India.

This little girl was at the temporary clinic in the mountains of central Puerto Rico for a check up.

Hospitality everywhere you go in Kenya.

Looking for the perfect portrait in Rajasthan. She was very shy so I was not totally successful, but I like the abstract shape and color. I will always be searching for the perfect shot!

This family in a shelter in central Puerto Rico after there home was destroyed by hurricane Maria.

An artist and his wife rode out the storm at their waterfront home with the waves crashing at their door. Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Old trees ripped down and houses destroyed in Vieques, Puerto Rico

A Kenyan women building her new kitchen by hand, with a design that will reduce smoke.

I want to thank everyone on their support for my 2016 Rickshaw run fundraising effort for the refurbishing of the orphanage in Bhaktapur, Nepal. It made a tremendous difference in the day to day of the kids lives. I have started another fund raiser for 2017 to benefit the children’s education fund. A quality education in Nepal is not free. There are fees, materials, books, and uniforms required for the children to get a quality education in Nepal.

So what is the adventure for this year? I am trekking to Everest Base camp in May to bring awareness and hopefully raise at least $5,000 for Kids of Kathmandu. They do amazing work in Nepal. They support an orphanage, as well as rebuild schools up in the mountains that were damaged by the devastating earthquake. Every little bit helps!

Working with AbbVie and Direct Relief documenting the emergency relief efforts in villages affected by hurricane Matthew in the Dominican Republic. This is a mother and child waiting their turn to see a doctor and get medications in the Monte Plata region of the Dominican Republic. We were in a tiny village community clinic overflowing with old people, plenty of babies and families waiting in very hot and humid conditions with an overwhelming smell of raw sewage from the flooding.

In many of the places I work in I stand out. Blending into the background, and being present when I choose to is something I strive for. This little one wasn't going to let me blend in. She watched me like a hawk. Documenting emergency relief efforts by AbbVie and Direct Relief in the aftermath of hurricane Matthew in the Dominican Republic.

I explored parts of India that I had ever seen before and had some amazing experiences. Young monks blowing horns during a remembrance ceremony on the steps of their monastery in the Ladhak region of India in the Himalayas.

Getting the shot! Christopher M. Lynch driving while Kedar P. Gaekwad films. I got to work with some awesome people in 2016. I traveled through India and Nepal with Chris. We worked on some assignments together as well as did some research on future projects. He was an amazing travel partner and photographer always ready to go the extra mile to get the shot. It was a privilege to work with Kedar. I met him five years ago on one of my first projects in India and we have kept in contact since. I have seen him go from director of photography to directing feature films in Mumbai. Talented guys!

Riding the Himalayas on a Royal Enfield motorcycle. The bike is underpowered, heavy, and terrible brakes, but amazing to ride through the Himalayas. Always find time to do things that make you happy. Love what you do, and it will love you back!

I strive to create photographs that illustrate the joys of life no matter how mundane or small. School girls playing at recess captured while on assignment in India for Abbott

One of my favorite assignments of 2016. It's amazing how much compassion the organizations I work with have for the people they help. On assignment for Americares documenting their rebuilding efforts after the devastating earthquake in Nepal. This is Junkiri, she was seriously injured when her house collapsed on her during the earthquake. @americares helped her with much needed physical rehabilitation so she could help in providing for her children. I went with her doctor up into the mountains of the Sindhupalchowk district to follow up on her progress. She is doing great and was happy for us to all crowd into her house.

You really have to have a reason to be someplace up in the mountains around Kathmandu. The roads are more like river beds and in the rain that is exactly what they are. I was traveling with doctors from Americares in a raging storm doing follow up visits of patients in remote villages. The roads were terrible, but at least this time I wasn't freaked out about my driver being extremely cross eyed. That is another story from a previous trip into the mountains

One of my favorite images from 2016. It was from an assignment for @Americares. We crowded into Junkiri's tiny one room home in the mountains of Sindhupalchok to escape the pouring rain. It was literally pitch black inside, so dark that I didn't notice that right next to me there was "grandfather" who put his hand on my arm to guide me to a seat. I suspect that Nepalis can see in the dark. As I was having a conversation in the darkness. I contemplated how I was going to be able to photograph. Then someone turned the light on their phone, then another, and another. It was beautiful, and a solution to my dilemma. Jinkiri's daughter went around offering us, and what looked like half the village crammed into her hut some tea and freshly made popcorn made from the corn she had drying in her home. It was a beautiful moment, and after some arranging of the "lights" I was able to get a good representation of that moment. We should have stayed over that night. The drive back down the mountain was a nightmare of roads blocked by parts of homes and power lines brought down by the storm.

I visited small tribal villages in Rajasthan and was invited to opium tea cookies with the local tribesmen. I got to dress up and there is photographic proof. Don't ask me how to make that turban.

I was the favorite target of every kid within a mile on Holi the festival of colors. This was from the first 30 minutes of walking the streets of Thamal, Kathmandu. So much fun!

In the mountains of Nepal you are always climbing up or climbing down. I was with a group of women who are social workers for Americares. We were climbing down a very steep hill. I was in front. When I got to the bottom I offered my hand to help the woman behind me. She laughed at me. She said "we are mountain women" true that! She could probably carry me down and up that hill in sandals no less.

On our way to the days location in rural India, and I spot out of the corner of my eye movement. I look and see off in the distance kids swinging from the hanging vines of a banyan tree. I of course make everyone go out of their way to go investigate. It was amazing and of course all the kids I happened to be photographing were there. Almost like I had planned it. Perfect! On assignment for Abbott.

t's gratifying when I get to photograph a success story. These three are triplets born severely under term in Kosovo. They survived due to the efforts of their amazing doctor, and to the availability of a drug to help premature babies breathe. These three were a handful running around hopped up on sugar, didn't speak any language I did, and had everyone who was there telling them something different to do. The whole shoot lasted 45 minutes with 40 of them spent in the ritual of eating pastries, cookies, and tea with the family then 5 minutes left for shooting. On assignment for AbbVie with Americares in Kosovo.

Photographed some tough things in 2016. Premature baby wards where you see tiny babies being kept alive in incubators. Survival of preemies is a huge challenge in developing countries.

Travelled with @directrelief to Chiapas, Mexico. We visited families who need help with transporting their children to the hospital for cancer treatment. Some of these families would need to travel more that 8 hours round trip from their village. A trip they cannot afford.

Young monks traveling in packs at a Monastery in Bhutan. I led a photo workshop with @cameravoyages to Bhutan/Nepal. I was part den mother, teacher, cat herder, guide, doctor, storyteller, and therapist. Taking people to experience the world the way I do when on assignment is a pleasure and a privilege.

I spent a little time with these guys who were swimming at sunset off the Malecon in Havana, Cuba. Amazing light and always something different going on.

I spent a couple of days with a family documenting their day to day work. She wanted to wear her favorite dress during the entire shoot. I enquired about a sari and was given a face of "no way". They let us disrupt their day and did whatever was asked. Beautiful people through and through and I appreciate the openness and effort in their part.

Leaving a monastery in the Ladakh region of India, and we run into these guys. Apprentice monks, they were fun to watch aggressive, a homemade cricket bat, talking smack. So serious about their cricket game. Love the moment.

Mexico amazing in so many ways, beauty, culture, food, people, I can't count the ways.

Woke up at 11,000 and beautiful vistas. Himalayas, Ladakh, India.

You can't leave until you have eaten said grandmother as she prepared the food over an open fire in the hut they live in. We were on our way out and she handed me an egg taco and a cup of watered down coffee. She stood there and watched me eat to make sure I finished it. Then she gave me more. Every home I visited in the countryside the same thing happened. Simple but great tasting food. I was so full I couldn't eat for the rest of the day. Chiapas, Mexico

Made a difference with a group of kids lives. Fundraised for @kidsofkathmandu and working on more for 2017!

My last post of this series. Photographed while on the road between Shillong, and Kochi India. The great adventure of 2016 started in 2015. My old friend Greg @dospinguinosindia proposed we do something a little crazy for 2016. Together we participated in the Rickshaw Run. Driving 2500 miles through India in an auto Rickshaw. Just for the hell of it, and to fundraise for orphanages in India and in Nepal. Surprisingly we survived this, and lived to tell the story. It was an amazing thing to do with lots of laughs, scares, bad roads, terrible food, horrific hotels, time wasted searching for elusive rickshaw parts, very warm beer, copious sweating, near misses with homicidal bus drivers, cows, and amazing interactions with Indians from all walks of life that were happy to see us. Even if they did think we were a little insane, ok very insane. There are so many images left to show, and people to talk about from 2016. I did my best to cover the highlights. My deepest gratitude to my clients, friends, followers, and people who let me into their lives to photograph them. A special thanks to my wife Scherezade Garcia who gives me the freedom to do what I love even when she tells me things like "wait a minute you are driving that thing across India? I don't know if I like that"Together you made 2016 great, both in my work, and personally. Although those worlds occupy the same space in my life. I am what I do! Onward to an awe inspiring 2017.

"Wait you are going to be driving that thing???" My wife's reaction to my plan. Most everyone particularly Indians I spoke to on my plans would have similar reactions.

More than a year ago Greg a friend and fellow photographer came up with an idea. Lets drive the length of India in an auto rickshaw, and we can fund raise for charities that we support. (An auto rickshaw is a three wheeled under powered vehicle used in India and other countries as an inexpensive way to get around cities. Totally not meant to do what we were going to be doing to it.) So after more than a year in the planning we departed Shillong along with 70 other rickshaw teams with similar insane ideas on a 2,400 mile journey to Kochi in a vehicle that went no faster than 30 miles and hour, has no windows, and broke down on a regular basis. Along the way we faced terrible roads, monsoon, flat tires, beyond insane traffic, sweated profusely, poor food, burned out pistons, lack of sleep, the hunt for spare parts, mosquitoes, suicidal bus drivers, roadside chai, and an amazing journey through India's magnificent landscapes. The best part, meeting people all along the way. Indians who would drop whatever they were doing to say hello, ask questions, shake our hand, take selfies with us, help load our rickshaw on a truck, bring us chai, help us find a mechanic, and treat us like celebrities. All of this with a huge smile on their faces with genuine amazement and happiness to see us.

Our fundraiser is still open until 9/1/2016. Every little bit goes a long way in helping orphans in India and Nepal. The main reason I did this was to fund raise for orphans. As cool as the trip was it was about doing what I can to help on making these kids lives a little better.

Please help me help them.

Families for Children

An orphanage that takes in mentally and physically disabled children. Amazing well run place in India.

Families for Children

An orphanage that takes in mentally and physically disabled children. Amazing well run place in India.

Kids of Kathmandu

An orphanage in Bhakatpur, Nepal. A well run place where the kids are really loved. I have a soft spot for them. I have seen them grow up.

Kids of Kathmandu

An orphanage in Bhakatpur, Nepal. A well run place where the kids are really loved. I have a soft spot for them. I have seen them grow up.

Here are some photos of our Adventure.

Our final 2,490 mile route....I know crazy

Day 1, a bad start. Gettiing stuck on a dead end road on a steep hill with 10 other Rickshaws.

Selfies everywhere with everyone we met

First day out...we get stuck in the mud.

The view from the back seat

where is that noise coming from??

Insane traffic

Everytime we stopped we had an audience

First piston burnout. Took us 24 hours to get resolved

Carberator needed regular dissasembly and cleaning. Usually on a bridge or by the side of the road with traffic screaming by

It took us a while to convince the mechanic what the problem was. Once he took it apart. He announces "This is your problem!".....yeah

If we can't bring the part to us. We will go to the part.

It was much nicer to be outside than crammed in the cab with the driver and three other people. We couldnt figure out why they were coming along

Rule number 1,2, and 3. Do not hit any animals, you will be made to pay. If you hit a cow........ just don't hit a cow they are sacred in India.

Traffic jams

Do not hit the pipe....I hit the pipe

Making friends

Crashing an Indian wedding

We were having our photo taken more than the bride and groom

A bit of perspective. Big truck and if you look closely.....our ride.

Different traffic jam, different animal

Chai by the side of the road. The best kind of chai!

We will probably be in an advertisement for the chai stand.

Piston #2. This time only half an hour to repair. Next one we do oursleves. Although we didnt have any more pistons.

Wise words

Having a deep conversation about my waist pack.

Helping with numbers

We were able to visit one of our charities. Families for Children near Kochi. An amazing visit.

More carb issues and many opinions on what is the issue.

Beautiful places

The back seat with our gasoline cans

Another flat tire.

Grandmother is an amazing cook

The kids loved our rickshaw

An amazing welcome at Families for Children. Of course we were 1/2 an hour early and messed up their plan.

Hmmmm...Maybe a new career path. Driving a truck in India. The driver lived in the truck with his mather and father.

Spices and more spices

In general Indian food is amazing. Except when it wasn't.

Making friends even while waiting in traffic.

Beautiful scenes that you just have to stop and photograph.

Visitors in the night.

Making children laugh. Actually they were probably lauging at us. We were in the wrong place by 200 miles.

A sheep and goat stampede.

Getting pulled over for selfies

People encouraged us along the way

Can never have too much chai

Looking for a mechanic and spare piston.

Some accomodations were very rustic. I am being generous.

Amazing things along the road

The morning ritual of getting gasoline all over us.

Always being observed

Our first tow

Chai while you wait to see if the bridge is washed out....It was

Waiting in the rain

Greg and me....sweating

Cars, people, bikes, people, rickshaws, and buffalo all coming at you at once.

Gas station attendant creating beauty

Girls on their way to school

Beautiful vistas

One last ferry into Kochi

Getting our coordniates for our last push

we have arrived! Celebrated with a complimenatry cold one.

Another selfie with our finish certificate. He was prouder than me!

15 days after we started....We have arrived in one piece!

A big thank you to Ian and Sam. I met them in Guwhati airport getting a taxi to Shillong. We ended up traveling together during the whole adventure. They stuck by us when our Rickshaw was sick, towed us a few times, snapped photos of us, and Ian just loved to get on the ground to take apart our engine when it needed fixing. They made the trip even more awesome. Great people.

India is a challenging place to work, with its multiple languages and complex culture. A culture that at first glance seems impossible to understand. Slowly but surely I have started to get certain aspects of Indian life. My Indian friends have started to say that I am becoming more Indian than them. I highly doubt that, but I want to be able to understand the Indian people as deeply as I can. It helps in my connecting with them, which I fell is a very important aspect in my work. Recently I was in India creating sills and video stories on a Social Responsibility project by Abbott on improving the quality of small scale milk production there. I was to get the farmers perspective, and on how the program affects them and their community. I was lucky to be traveling in India with my colleague and film maker Christofer Lynch on another project and was able to add his expertise. I also hiredKedar Prabhakar Gaekwad a great DP and director from Mumbai. What a team we made!

Originally the farmers that were to be interviewed did not work for many reasons. There are so many intangibles in getting good interviews and photographs of people that its hard for someone who is not in the communications business to understand. "You need farmers?" "No problem here are 10.", "What is wrong with the 10 I sent you?" So I was getting a little worried. Here I am in India for a very limited amount of time and not finding the right subjects. On the 3rd day, we arrived early in the morning to photograph farmers arriving to drop off milk at a milk collection point. People came and went, then a farmer showed up with his family to drop off milk. No one else had brought their family to do this task. Immediately I knew they were the ones. Plus Kedar spoke to them and told me they had a great story. We built the rest or our visit around them. In the end they were perfect. I am always optimistic that things can go from not good to great in a second. Its just a matter of determination, persuasion, and patience.

They were very happy that the program created opportunities for them to be able to not just get by and be able to make plans for the future and grow.

They are an amazing, loving family family. They treated us like honored guests. Not to mention the incredible amount of patience they had with us. We basically spent most of our time getting in their way.

Quotes from the shoot.

"Wait!! I want you to take a picture of me in my favorite dress"

"Chai?" "More Chai?"

"When will you finish"

"You want to come back tomorrow at 6 in the morning?"

"I want to grow my farm to 30 cows"

"I am happy with my life"

Husband and wife dairy farmers in India.

Mother and daughter at the doorway of their modest house.

Young farmer

Sana in her favorite dress, with her goat

Everyone is up early to work taking care of the cows.

Young family walking on their small farm.

End of the day playtime in the fields.

Sana

Sana was fearless in front of the camera.

On their way to the milk collection point to drop off that afternoons milk.

I am always looking for ways to combine what I do as a photographer to help others. Working for NGO's is one way I help, by bringing awareness through my photography which in turn helps the NGO's raise funds. Every few years I find a challenge to do and fundraise directly. In 2013 it was a trek to Everest Basecamp. I raised almost $7,000. This time around I am driving an Auto Rickshaw 2,100 miles from Shillong, India to Kochi, India with a friend and fellow photographer Greg Kinch. Its a bit crazy but it should be super interesting, fun, a serious challenge, and the best part I get to generate funds for a few NGOs like Families for Children, Kids of Kathmandu, and Cool Earth. My goal is to raise $5,000. Which will be split evenly by the three charities. These funds will go towards direct support of the children. Please support this endeavor!

Recently, I was traveling through the mountains in Sindhupalchok, Nepal with a small group from Americares on a patient followup who had been injured during the massive earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015. This is an area that was devastated from the earthquake with most of the homes destroyed and many people injured or killed. It took us about two hours on very poor roads just to get near the village where she lived. Once there it was about a half a mile walk on a muddy, twisting path to get to her home. On the way to Junkiri's home it started to rain heavily. So we took refuge under a nearby home's outdoor cooking fire cover. Unfortunately, we did not all fit under it. A woman inside the home invited us in. She said we were welcome to wait out the rain. I felt terrible with all five of us dripping wet and making a mess. She said not to worry. "It was all right." The rain lessened a little so off we went to Junkiri's home with what seemed half the village in tow. Along the way the rain started up again. Originally we wanted to work outside, but the rain forced us inside. All of us crowded into her tiny home, and sat where we could, on the bed, on a box, a stool, the floor wherever. It was pitch black inside with no light so everyone started to take out their phones to light the scene. As Junkiri was interviewed, her daughter passed around ginger tea and popcorn. We were not allowed to leave until all the tea was drunk, popcorn consumed and the rain stopped. She and her family took us in, gave us refuge, and left a really special memory on me of our encounter. I am happy to say that she is almost fully recovered from her injuries.

I am always impressed with the selfless dedication of Americares staff working in difficult places, and under challenging circumstances. They are extremely dedicated to making peoples live better.

Now the hard part to make our way back down the mountain during the storm....That in itself was an adventure!

The roads on our way to visit...more like river beds than roads.

Escaping the rain and wind.

Taking temporary refuge from the storm in a neighbors home.

Crowded in the home staying dry while tea is passed around with iphones lighting the way.

As we approach the one year anniversary of the earthquake in Nepal that killed many, and left many more injured and homeless. I am in Nepal working on a variety of projects documenting some of the reconstruction efforts. I am excited to be working with Americares documenting some of their reconstruction efforts in Nepal. As a personal project, I am working on creating stories of Kids of Kathmandu's efforts in Nepal rebuilding schools and supporting orphans. I have worked with them in the past and I am a big fan of their work. I also admire and respect its founders Andrew and Jami who pour immense amounts of love, and tireless work to the success of the organization, and the children. I am lucky to have teamed up with Chris Lynch a friend, a Sony Artisan, accomplished film maker, and a fellow photographer. He is helping me create content that will help them get the word out on the great work these organizations are doing. Big thanks to Sony Artisans for their support. Stay tuned for more!

Starting a little series of how I created certain photo with some back story.

I was in India on assignment working for Abbott creating imagery that illustrated their social responsibility efforts in India. I was photographing, clinics, people, milk collection, farmers, farming, and landscapes. I had free reign to photograph whatever I wanted, but the images had to tell the stories that the client wanted to highlight. There was no specific shot list just concepts.

Milk collection in rural areas

A local NGO's efforts on locating and helping women with gestational diabetes

Women's healthcare in rural India

A local NGO that provided access to clean water

Medicine distribution in rural India

Its not a very long list but its very daunting when you consider the process that the images have to go through before they are selected. The photographs have to feel serendipitous, show the best of India and its people, show that you are in India, simple uncluttered backgrounds, and be able to use the images in different ways. For example social media, in print, horizontal, vertical, on a cover, leave space for copy, and the list goes on. So its a lot to think about when you are deciding on an image to take, framing shots, and clicking that shutter. Plus there is no client going through this process with you and sharing in the struggles to create the images. Its my problem, and my problem alone.

In these series of photos. I was hanging around a clinic hoping to create some images of women at the clinic. The day I am there was a super slow day. The story of my life. I am either too early or too late. There were only two patients and the photos were not ideal. So I waited, and I waited hoping some other women would show up. Also it was getting later in the morning and once the light gets too high its really harsh. Not great light for images of people. Then these three girls appeared through the gate, one of them was coming to the clinic to meet with her mother.

They stopped in front of the wall to wait. I approached them and started a conversation through my interpreter. I asked if I can photograph them. They said yes, but they were very shy and would not look at the camera. I decided that I would need to separate them, and I figured my best chance was with the girl in purple. I said that I wanted to photograph them separately, but I started with the girl in purple. Just in case they decided to quit on me.

At first she wanted to be photographed with her friends and was calling them over, but I reassured her that it will be quick and I will photograph her friends after her.

This is where we started giving me a not so friendly face plus the light was a little hard. I wanted her to turn into the light a bit so her eyes would light up. Also her friend's shadow was in the shot so I had to move her away a bit.

After I got her friend to move, I was able to focus on my subject. She was shy in the sense that she wasn't able to look at the camera and smile at the same time. So I spoke to her friend and asked a question about the girl in purple. I think I asked if she was always this shy. She replied and this caused my subject to turn towards her and smile. She sort of smiled, she was trying her best not to smile. I shot about 30 frames of everyone including the final shot, and the whole encounter was probably 5 minutes.

Waiting for that "perfect moment" would make these projects go on for weeks and no guaranty of success. So I have to step in and control what I can by being selective, have a clear vision, and influencing what is going on in the image so I capture the best out of people in the time I have.

I think this image turned out great. She made me work for it a bit. The light was beautiful, as well as all the colors. Yes, it doesn't obviously feel like it was shot in India, but with the elements taken together it still gives that sense.

Heading back to Nepal in a couple of weeks to work on some post earthquake relief efforts stories for a few NGO's. Also developing stories for my favorite NGO that does amazing things Kids of Kathmandu for their fund raising efforts, and also followup on some personal projects. Its an ambitious schedule and I hope to accomplish much.

My friendships in Nepal grew from my Everest basecamp trek in 2013. I fund raised for Kids of Kathamndu as part of my trek. Since then our friendship has grown and I have returned to Nepal a few times on assignment after the earthquake and part of my travels for my photographic workshops with Camera Voyages.

I will be doing some fundraising this coming August for them doing something interesting and a little off the wall. I will write about it when it is set up.

Here are some images from the orphanage in Bhaktapur and from a village in the mountains where a school is being rebuilt.

(Doing the Hokey Pokey) I have never seen kids more excited about going to school. Bhaktapur

Such happiniess, Bhaktapur

Stone laying ceremony for a new school in the mountians that was destroyed by the earthquake.

Everyone wants to learn

Even under difficult conditions in the temporary school these students are happy to have a place to learn.

Even while waiting to see a doctor at an impromptu clinic set up in seriously earthquake damaged Bhakatpur this girl retains her sense of humor sticking her tongue out at me.

This was a school in Kathmandu. Luckily the earthquake happened on a Saturday.

Beautiful expressive faces, Bhaktapur

The walk to school is one of my favorite parts of the visit to the orphanage. Bhaktapur

Post earthquake temporary school made out of corrugated sheet metal that would collapse on the slightest tremor.

In small villages up in the mountains, one of the chores girls do is fetch water from a mountain spring. It is along a small, steep path cut into the mountainside. Literally hundreds of feet up. These backpacks designed to carry water provided by Kids of Kathmandu make the chore easier and safer.

I have been working on some video shorts to promote my photo workshops with Camera Voyages in Cuba and beyond. Its a great exercise in self editing as you are working as well as pre-visualizing what the final result will be. A short on Flamenco dancing in La Plaza Cathedral in Old Havana, Cuba

10 years ago I was asked to go to Afghanistan for a Abbott a commercial client. They wanted to document the work an NGO (Afghan Institute of Learning) that they supported was doing in Afghanistan. I was excited and honestly very worried. I had never been in an active war zone. Although it can be argued that growing up in NYC in the 70's qualifies as a war zone. Particularly in the neighborhoods I lived in. Needless to say my wife was not to happy. I was a father with two young children and the chances of something happening to you are high. Not to mention there were other issues. Number one being that this was my first job for them. Also it was more like documentary photography which was a departure from what my work at that time which was commercial portraits with lighting etc. So lots of things to consider. Of course I said yes! I never turn down an opportunity to be challenged and of course travel.

I started doing the research I needed to make the trip happen. Visas, travel, local customs, on the ground conditions, and connecting with the in country organization that I was going to work with. Luckily I had great support from my clients, and I already had lots of travel experience to lean on. It is one of the defining moments in my career as an artist and a person. It has led me to all sorts of new opportunities and people. All I had to do what take a leap into the unknown.

This project helped with my perspective of how I see the world and photograph it. Thoughts I live by in my day to day.

I want my photos to be beautiful

I want to show the best of humanity

I portray people with dignity

This photo is one I took while I was at a clinic outside of Kabul with the most amazing Afghani woman. Dr. Sakena Yacoobi. She is a force of nature and I am lucky to have spent some time with her. Normally women in Afghanistan cover themselves from head to toe in Burkas. Behind walls they can a little more relaxed with that. Although if a man is around they normally stay covered up. So being basically an alien from another planet in a place like Afghanistan some of those rules don't apply to me. She was sitting waiting her turn to see the doctor, and we stopped to talk to her. Well I spoke through Sakena. She had pulled her burka over her head in a relaxed way, but covered her face a bit with her hand so I could really see her fully. I would ask questions like what she was doing there, how was she feeling, about her family etc. As we spoke I set up my Speed Graphic 4x5 camera, and started taking some photos. I really wanted to see her smile, but she would not drop her hand, and was very serious. As we spoke I took a few shots I tried a few words in Farsi the local language and she found that very amusing, she smiled behind her hand, and I clicked the shutter. Then she had put her hand down and had graced me with a beautiful smile. Wow what a privilege!! These are the moments I live for. I ended up only taking a few photos of her and the photo stars were in alignment that I had captured what I was looking for. It wasn't used by the client but it was more for me anyway.

Tech specs

1960's era Speed Graphic view camera

150 mm Schneider lens

Type 55 Polaroid film (sadly, extinct now killed by the digital revolution)

There is no better feeling than knowing the work you do is helping others. I was in Kathmandu on a commercial project and took time to photograph for my favorite NGO Kids of Kathmandu. They are doing great things for the children in Nepal before and after the earthquake in 2015. Check it out here, and if you can give please do. It definitely goes to the right place.

To me there is nothing more satisfying to be a witness or a protagonist in those moments that leave a memory for yourself or others. Whether its witnessing a birth in a tent in the terrible aftermath of a Typhoon or just being a welcome distraction to someones day. For example these ladies were working in the rice fields in Bhutan. We had seen them from a distance away so we crossed the fields to investigate. As we approach they ignore me. I start photographing them and basically begin to be a distraction (something I do well). After a while curiosity takes over and they start talk talking to me through my guide asking what I was doing there and what do I want. I said I want nothing except to spend a little time with them and learn about them. In those moments of sharing you get little random tidbits that make like special. One tidbit that stood out is that they like smear cow manure on faces of any love interest. Just to show if you love me you can handle this....

As we left they shouted "I love you!" My daughter who was with me says to me. "I am going to tell mommy!" I told her, I think they just want to smear cow manure on my face.

I like to think that in those few minutes we spent together they will have a strong memory of the encounter. It certainly did for me.

"Guys whats going on????" That was my question to my driver and guide after spotting masked men with torches stopping cars on the road we are driving on. In my experience masked men stopping cars on a quiet road, at night, is something to be very worried about, and always avoided. I was putting on my New York don't mess with me face. After a moment the driver replies. "Oh wow this is great, man!"What! what are they doing? I say. The driver says "You are lucky they are chasing off the bad spirits!" So I got out to chase them to get some photos, but they were off chasing the spirits faster than I could catch them. Almost like spirits themselves.

A little local knowledge goes a long way when traveling. I was able to breathe again, although it was tough at 10,000 feet.